Tweet
ANCIENT FORTRESS OF TIGRANAKERT FOUND IN MARTAKERT
AZG Armenian Daily
28/08/2007
Dr. Hamlet Petrosian, the head of the expedition of the Institute of
Archeology and Ethnography, held a news conference on August 24 near
the ruins of the ancient Armenian town of Tigranakert discovered near
the village of Surenavan in the region of Martakert.
As a result of the excavations, the archeologists discovered an
ancient Armenian fortress. The digging of the wall of the fortress
and the church still continue, the southern gate was cleared of the
layer of sand. A great number of exponents of ancient and medieval
culture were discovered by the archeologists.
"In exploring the site we discovered a new fortress.
We think it was also built during the times and power of King Tigran,
but we still continue our researches.
We continue digging the citadel, the fundament of the fortress,
the terrace and the church. We hope to get a full idea of the main
compound by the end of the excavations. I also hope to find writings
near the church. We found some fragments but I cannot state yet they
are Armenian lithographs," Hamlet Petrosian said.
The archeologist said the excavations are impeded by financial
problems. He said unfortunately this year the Yerkir Union which
supports the excavations provided less funding. "Unfortunately, we
got no help from innumerable Armenian organizations and agencies,
not even the government of Armenia and the Academy of Sciences. Only
the government of Karabakh provided 3.5 million drams in July
after we turned to the prime minister. Meanwhile, the excavations
finish but we haven't sufficient financial sources yet. Yesterday
they promised to transfer the money today, I hope they will. This
is the first time the government of Karabakh has helped us, I
commend them," Hamlet Petrosian said. "In Azerbaijan they say this
is political excavations. I want to state officially this is not
political excavations because the political bodies pay no attention
to us. This is an academic initiative. I haven't noticed any politics
on behalf of the government so far," the historian said. By the way,
the excavations of Tigranakert started in 2005.
In the first year the location of the town was identified,
afterwards in 2006 part of the wall of the citadel, the wall of one
of the neighborhoods and part of an early Christian basilica were
discovered. Hamlet Petrosian is hopeful that the excavations will
continue next year and new buildings and objects will be discovered.
AZG Armenian Daily
28/08/2007
Dr. Hamlet Petrosian, the head of the expedition of the Institute of
Archeology and Ethnography, held a news conference on August 24 near
the ruins of the ancient Armenian town of Tigranakert discovered near
the village of Surenavan in the region of Martakert.
As a result of the excavations, the archeologists discovered an
ancient Armenian fortress. The digging of the wall of the fortress
and the church still continue, the southern gate was cleared of the
layer of sand. A great number of exponents of ancient and medieval
culture were discovered by the archeologists.
"In exploring the site we discovered a new fortress.
We think it was also built during the times and power of King Tigran,
but we still continue our researches.
We continue digging the citadel, the fundament of the fortress,
the terrace and the church. We hope to get a full idea of the main
compound by the end of the excavations. I also hope to find writings
near the church. We found some fragments but I cannot state yet they
are Armenian lithographs," Hamlet Petrosian said.
The archeologist said the excavations are impeded by financial
problems. He said unfortunately this year the Yerkir Union which
supports the excavations provided less funding. "Unfortunately, we
got no help from innumerable Armenian organizations and agencies,
not even the government of Armenia and the Academy of Sciences. Only
the government of Karabakh provided 3.5 million drams in July
after we turned to the prime minister. Meanwhile, the excavations
finish but we haven't sufficient financial sources yet. Yesterday
they promised to transfer the money today, I hope they will. This
is the first time the government of Karabakh has helped us, I
commend them," Hamlet Petrosian said. "In Azerbaijan they say this
is political excavations. I want to state officially this is not
political excavations because the political bodies pay no attention
to us. This is an academic initiative. I haven't noticed any politics
on behalf of the government so far," the historian said. By the way,
the excavations of Tigranakert started in 2005.
In the first year the location of the town was identified,
afterwards in 2006 part of the wall of the citadel, the wall of one
of the neighborhoods and part of an early Christian basilica were
discovered. Hamlet Petrosian is hopeful that the excavations will
continue next year and new buildings and objects will be discovered.